Looking back and Growing forward

December 10, 2018

8 years have passed since newsletter number one went live and it is time to reflect on what has transpired over this time.

I went back to look at the first few newsletters and one thing stood out to me. The current iteration of the Salisbury Pediatric Newsletter is significantly longer and much more philosophical about health and life. I am not sure if this is the result of age, knowledge or desire. Maybe all three. The direction seems to be a good one as readership continues to grow and positive responses come in.

What is clear to me is that the world is a significantly more beautiful place than that portrayed by the modern media outlets on TV. Local newspapers like the Salisbury Post still produce a product that appeals to the local hearts and minds by discussing positive and feel good stories. We need more positivity in our lives.

1) Your genes do not define you, however, they can be an advantage or a disadvantage. Here, I think of your favorite grandfather who smokes and drinks the wrong beverages daily or Mr. Warren Buffett who eats McDonalds fast food everyday and drinks 3-5 colas a day but is thriving in his 80's. Statistics of morbidity and mortality show us that they represent the minority of Americans who have advantageous genes that detoxify and metabolize everything perfectly. Not knowing if you are lucky in the genetics sweepstakes, plan as if you are a genetics loser and go all natural in all ways. Avoid chemicals, eat organically, don't smoke or vape, think positively and move.

2) Your intestinal microbiome is becoming one of the most important organs to your health. Focusing on avoiding unnecessary medicines that alter the beneficial gut bacteria while consuming lots of prebiotic fiber and whole foods is critical. 3) Women should begin to focus on optimal health prior to choosing to become pregnant. Focusing on avoiding chemicals and drugs, eating a diet of predominantly vegetables and fruits, moving daily and staying positive mentally are all critical to maternal health which in turn helps develop a beautifully healthy baby.

4) Autoimmunity is on the rise. I think that science is going to continue to prove that a combination of toxic chemical exposure and poor quality American style western diets are the major driving forces or our self injurious decline.

5) Think natural first before taking any supplement or medicine. Food first, natural supplements second, least powerful medicines third and finally highly potent ones when necessary. This pathway reduces the risk of a side effect to potent medicines. Medication errors and side effects are a major cause of death nationally. This principle guides the recommendation for high quality prenatal vitamins over pharma grade choices.

6) Teens have a lot of hurdles to overcome with technology imposing its will on their unprepared prefrontal cortex and lives. We need to be available to counsel them, forgive their errors and grow with them as technology changes and influences them. Stay involved.

7) Air and food quality in our schools are a huge concern for health and now learning potential. We need to support grass roots efforts to revolutionize school food to a whole foods vegetable based high quality type. We need to air out our schools daily. Kids deserve better.

8) The placebo effect or healer's hands are often neglected parts of the healing process. Research continues to show that both are useful. Positive mindsets are ever so critical to all phases of life.

9) Nourish Your Tribe is here and I could not be more excited to have this reference for parents to use everyday as they navigate the world of modern food.

10) Welcome to Chef Mark Allison! A phenomenal addition to our family of educators.